Shōyōroku / Congrong lu · CASE 39
Jōshū—Wash Your Bowl
The Book of Serenity
Banshō's pointer
When food comes, open the mouth; when sleep comes, close the eyes. While washing the face, pick up the nostrils; when putting on shoes, feel the heels. Miss the topic then, and deep in the night you carry a torch and search elsewhere. How can you come into accord?
Case
A monk asked Jōshū, “This student has just entered the community. I beg the teacher for instruction.” Jōshū said, “Have you eaten your congee?” The monk said, “I have eaten.” Jōshū said, “Go wash your bowl.”
Hongzhi's verse
Congee finished, he orders him to wash the bowl. Suddenly the mind-ground accords with itself. Now a community guest full-fed on practice— tell me: within this, was there awakening or not?
Footnotes 4
- Banshō says the primary record reports awakening, while Hongzhi asks whether awakening occurred and Banshō calls that a probing question. The historical text establishes the report and disagreement, not the monk's privately verifiable state. ↩
- Prince Ren is the giant fisherman of a Zhuangzi story. The comparison magnifies Jōshū's unforced “catch”; it does not identify the monk as prey in an ethical or social sense. ↩
- Isan, Gensha, Lingyun, and Setchō offer different appraisals. Their disagreement is evidence against treating a narrated awakening as a simple, unanimously certified event. ↩
- The closing military proverb distinguishes production of an outcome from possession or experience of it. It remains premodern political rhetoric, not an endorsement of military rule. ↩
About this version and its sources
- Full source citation
- Source title: 趙州洗鉢. Base: CBETA T2004, T48n2004_p0253a20–p0253b17. Angle brackets represent inline notes.
- Method
- Direct critical-edition translation from the cited received base text. Source claims, hagiography, uncertainty, and unresolved readings remain identified in the notes and project record.
- Editorial uncertainty
- Independent philological and reader review remain pending.
- Rights
- Project translation © Tulsa Zen Center Critical Edition contributors. Source text is cited by edition; redistribution policy requires final organizational approval.
- Revision identifier
- b300f4b4b37e
Banshō's commentary on the case
Fishing for a dragon with a straight hook is already not quick. A lacquer bucket remains three inches from the hook. This field had already been completely occupied by Chuanzi and Kassan. I do not say that people today have no share; for the most part they covet the bait and swallow the hook. Look at Jōshū. He neither snaps the fishing rod nor overturns the boat. He sits at ease upon the stone bridge. When he crosses beside the narrow footbridge, those who come ashore naturally fall into his hand. The primary record says that this monk accorded in awakening through the encounter.2 It may be said: At the rod-tip, play with the silk line as you will; not touching the clear waves, the intent differs of itself. Jōshū, like Prince Ren, fulfilled his purpose first. Now see Tendō strike the sounding board afterward.3 Lingyun saw peach blossoms and awakened to the Way. He presented a verse to Isan. Isan said, “One who enters through conditions will never again retreat or lose it.” When Gensha heard, he said, “Accurate—most accurate. Still, I dare guarantee that my elder brother has not yet penetrated.” Lingyun heard this and asked, “Have you penetrated, Reverend?” Gensha said, “Only this way will do.”4 Tendō versifies this monk as according in awakening, his mind-ground matching itself. The monk had just entered the community, yet he is called one greatly and thoroughly awakened, a Zen traveler full-fed in the community. Tell me: was there awakening or no awakening? This is called a probing question. Setchō said: Originally no delusion or awakening, numerous as hemp; Lingyun alone is allowed to be an adept. Gensha said he had not penetrated; Setchō alone allowed that he was an adept. Like Xu the Sixth carrying a board, each sees one side. Now tell me: when Jōshū said, “Wash your bowl,” did the monk awaken or not?2 Peace is originally brought about by the general, but the general is not permitted to see peace.5